Automatic medical electrical apparatus.



m. 7|2,22o. I Patented 0ct.'28, 1902. A. r. a J. c; vanes. AUTOMATIC MEDICAL ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

(Applicqtion filed I'eb; -26,- 1901.)

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UNITED STATES ATENT A OFFICE.

ALEXANDER F. VETTER AND JOSEPH c. vETTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNORS TO VETTER MANUFAOTURING COMPANY, OE ASTORIA, BOROUGH OE oUEENs, NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC MEDICAL ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming M of Letters Patent No. 712,220, dated October 28, 1902.

Application filed February 26, 1901. Serial No. 48,900. (No model- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, ALEXANDER F. VET- TER and J osEPH C. VETTER, citizens of the- United States, and residents of the city of New York, (Astoria, borough of Queens,) in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new Automatic Medical Electrical Apparatus, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to apparatus for subjecting various parts of the human body to the action of an electrical current, and has for its object to provide a simple and readilymanipulated device of the above-indicated class which will be in the form of a handle adapted to be grasped by either hand and which will control the operation of the device automatically.

The invention will be fully described here inafter and the features of novelty pointed out in the appended claims. v

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an exterior view of our improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig; 2, and Fig. A is a separate; View of an electrode forming part of our apparatus.

The apparatus comprises a casing or handle A, adapted to receive in its interior a battery B, the body of which forms one terminal, while the other terminal is formed by central projections B at each end of the battery. The latter is pressed inward by a spring'C, arranged within a recess of a removable cap D. Thus the battery is held firmly in position and rattling is prevented. The inner projection B engages a contact-plate E, secured to the frame F of an induction-coil G, which may be slid into and out of the casing or handle A. The contact-plate E is connected with an arm E, having a point adapted to engage the vibrating spring armature E, which is attracted by the magnetic core of the coil to make and break the circuit in the wellknown manner. One end of the coil G is connected with the armature E The other end by a wire J with an electrode of the coil G is connected with an elastic contact-plate H, adapted when pressed inward to engage another con tact-plate H, connected by a Wire I with the body of the battery B. For pressingthe contact-plates H H together we provide a plunger L, mounted to move axially in the cap D and provided with a shank L and a socket L at its outer end. A spring M normally keeps the plunger in its outer position. The socket L is adapted to receive the stem or shank N of a disk or button shaped electrode N, which is made of a carbon mixture, and preferably we provide with each apparatus a set of electrodes N of .different composition, and consequently different resistance, thus affording a simple means of graduating the action of the apparatus. The end G of the coil G is connected K, located upon the outside of the casing or handle A. This electrode may be formed by a closely-coiled wire, as shown, orv inany other suitable manner.

In operation the handle A in such a manner that the person holds the casing or electrode K-will be in contact with the hand. Then the electrode N is pressed against that part of the body which itis desired to treat-for instance, against the cheek. The plunger L will then slide inward and press the contactplates H H together. This closes the primary circuit, as follows: from the body of the battery B through the wire I, contact-plates H H, wire G coil G, wire G, spring E, arm

E, contact-plate E, and projection B of the battery. The core of the coil. G being energized, the armature or spring E will swing to and fro, making and breaking the circuit. Every time the spring E leaves the point of the arm E an induced current of relatively high potential will pass from the end G of the coil to the wire J, the electrode K, the body of the person, the electrode N, plunger L, coil G. When the electrode N is removed from the body, the spring M will force the plunger L outward and break the connection.

contact-plate H, and wire G back to the Owing to the provision of projections B at I each end of the battery B the latter may be inserted in either position. The electrodeN IOO is removably held in the socket L and by using electrodes of diiferent resistance the action of the apparatus may be readily graduated.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A medical electrical apparatus, provided withaset of electrodes diiferingin resistance, forming a means for increasing or diminishing the current-flow.

2. A medical electrical apparatus for subjecting various parts of the human body to the action of an electrical current, comprising a casing or handle, a current-supplying device therein, an electrode connected with said device and located on the outside of the easing or handle, another electrode slidable in the casing or handle, and a circuit-closer adapted to be operated by the movement of said electrode.

3. A medical electrical apparatus, comprisinga casing,a current-supplying device therein, an electrode connected with said device and located on the outside of the casing, a spring-pressed electrode slidable at one end of the casing, and a circuit-closer adapted to be engaged and operated by the said electrode when the latter is moved inward against the action of the spring.

4. A medical electrical apparatus, com prising a casing, a battery located therein and provided at opposite ends with projections forming one pole of the battery, while the body of the battery forms the other pole, an induction-coil connected with said poles, an electrode connected with one end of said coil, another, movable, electrode connected with the other end of the coil, and a circuit-closer operated by the movement of said electrode.

5. A medical electrical apparatus. comprising a casing, and induction-coil therein, a battery in the casing, a cap located at one end of the casing and having a spring for pressing the battery toward the induction-coil,

and electrodes connected with the ends of the coil.

6. A medical electrical apparatus, compris ing a casing, a battery therein, an inductioncoil likewise located in the casing and connected with the battery, an electrode located upon the outside of the casing and connected with one end of the coil, another electrode located at one end of the casing, a springpressed plunger slidable in the casing and carrying said electrode, and a circuit'closer controlling the action of the coil and operated by the movement of said plunger.

7. A battery having a casing forming one terminal, and conducting members at each end, forming the other terminal, whereby the battery becomes reversible.

8. A medical electrical apparatus, comprising a hollow handle, fixed and movable electrodes mounted thereon, a source of electrical supply and a circuit-closer mounted within said handle, said circuit-closer being situated partially in the path of the said movable electrode and controllable by the movements thereof.

9. A medical electrical apparatus, comprising a hollow insulated handle, a source of electrical supply mounted therein and an electrode wound spirally thereon and provided with a contact-surface, an electrode slidably mounted in said hollow handle and provided with a contact-surface, and mechanism mounted within said handle for opening and closing the circuit of said electrical supply, the said mechanism lying partially within the path of said movable electrode and controllable thereby.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER F. VETTER. JOSEPH C. VETTER. Witnesses:

JoHN LOTKA, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

